USL First Division Weekend Round-Up

June 2, 2008

Vancouver Whitecaps are the new leaders of the United Soccer Leagues First Division following a successful pair of away results over the weekend.

The latest USL-1 games also saw a couple of streaks come to an end, with Carolina RailHawks suffering their first defeat of the season away to Southern Derby rivals Atlanta Silverbacks, while Rochester Rhinos finally got in the win column after claiming three points at home to Portland Timbers.

The action started last Wednesday, with the Whitecaps getting goals from Jason Jordan and substitute Nicholas Addlery in a fine 2-0 away victory over former USL-1 leaders Charleston Battery. Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, had a poor start to their eastern road trip, as an unfortunate own-goal by Noah Merl gave Carolina a 2-1 home victory.

Montreal Impact's woes in front of goal continued on Friday night, as Nick De Santis' side fell 1-0 to Portland at Saputo Stadium. Chris Brown's strike just before halftime meant the Impact have gone five games in both USL-1 and Nutrilite Canadian Championship action without finding the back of the net. In Puerto Rico, the Islanders had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Seattle after Taylor Graham cancelled out Taiwo Atieno's first-half strike.

Saturday saw the RailHawks' unbeaten run end at seven games, as Macoumba Kandji's deflected free kick strike gave Atlanta three valuable Southern Derby Cup points in a 1-0 home result. In Minnesota, an hour-long tornado delay did not stop the Whitecaps from claiming a third straight win on the road and moving to the summit of USL-1 after a 1-0 win over the Thunder. Defeat for Minnesota was their first at home this season.

On Sunday, Rochester gave Darren Tilley his first win as a professional club head coach, as goals by Matthew Delicate and Johnny Menyongar gave the Rhinos a 2-1 home win over Portland. Down in south Florida, meanwhile, Seattle's difficult road trip ended in another stalemate for the defending USL-1 champions, as the ten-man Sounders drew 0-0 with hosts Miami FC Blues.